The Apple MacBook Pro 13 is known for its sleek design, high-quality Retina display, long battery life and seamless integration with other Apple products, making it ideal for users invested in the Apple ecosystem and those who prioritize portability and battery life over raw performance. On the other hand, the MSI Prestige 15 offers more powerful hardware suitable for demanding tasks like 3D rendering, machine learning or gaming, and generally provides better connectivity options. However, this performance comes at the cost of battery life, and it is typically bulkier, which could be a concern if you often carry your laptop around. If you need a workhorse for intensive tasks and don't mind a larger form factor or less battery life, the MSI Prestige 15 is a strong option. If you prioritize portability, battery life, and are a regular user of macOS applications, the MacBook Pro 13 would be a better fit. Give Feedback
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Advantages of the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022)
Good overall display quality
Best in class overall build quality
Very good portability
Best in class battery life
Best in class speakers
Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Prestige 15
The MSI Prestige 15 has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022).
Key differences
Software Development
7.8/10
7.2/10
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.1/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) and MSI Prestige 15 are both good for software development, though the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) is somewhat better.
PerfectRec’s Software Development Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for software developers.
Screen Quality
7.6/10
6.8/10
13.3in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
497.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
298.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 has a better screen than the MSI Prestige 15 for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
For general use, the MacBook Pro 13's display offers sharp images and bright, vibrant colors due to its high resolution and quality panel type. Engineering and design professionals benefit from the MacBook's wide color gamut, ensuring accurate color reproduction critical for detailed work. However, its lower refresh rate makes the MacBook less ideal for 3D applications where smoother visuals are crucial, while the MSI Prestige 15's screen falls short in gaming and 3D scenarios for the same reason, despite being sufficient for general use and professional design tasks.
Battery
20.0 Hours
7.5 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 has 20 hours of battery life. The MSI Prestige 15 has 7.5 hours of battery life.
Battery life estimate is based on a mix of common use patterns. More portable and higher performing laptops tend to have less battery life.
Portability
Very Good
Good
13.3in
SIZE
15.6in
3.0 lbs
WEIGHT
3.7 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) has very good portability, while the MSI Prestige 15 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0/10
7.4/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) has best in class build quality, while the MSI Prestige 15 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,219
$1,044
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) has a price of $1,219 and the MSI Prestige 15 costs $1,044.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) and MSI Prestige 15 are both good for general use.
PerfectRec’s General Use Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for general productivity, web browsing, streaming, video calls, and running a wide variety of apps and programs.
Gaming and AI
6.5/10
6.3/10
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
10.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) and MSI Prestige 15 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022), with its capable GPU, offers decent support for 3D applications but may not handle high-end gaming or extensive 3D modeling very well due to its average screen refresh rate, and notably, many popular games are not compatible with macOS. Meanwhile, the MSI Prestige 15 with a stronger GPU and higher screen refresh rate provides smoother gaming and 3D rendering experiences, although it's generally more expensive.
Engineering and Design
7.5/10
7.2/10
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.1/10
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) and MSI Prestige 15 are both good for engineering and design.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) with its high-resolution screen, powerful Apple M2 chip integrating CPU and GPU, offers strong performance for engineering and design applications, while also providing a silent operation and excellent screen color accuracy.
Content Creation
7.9/10
7.5/10
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.1/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) and MSI Prestige 15 are both good for content creation.
PerfectRec’s Content Creation Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for photo editing, video editing and other content creation tasks.
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How the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) and the MSI Prestige 15 compare to other laptops
"The MacBook Pro 13 is still a very good subnotebook. The 2022 MacBook Pro 13 might look like recycling at first, because the device is completely identical to the old model expect for the new M2 SoC. We have to admit that we were surprised to see another iteration of the MBP 13 as well. The laptop is obviously familiar, but this does not change the fact that it is still a very good subnotebook. You get an excellent chassis with good stability, a very good display, good input devices and the new M2 chip is very powerful and efficient."
"The MSI Prestige 15 offers a dazzling 4K image quality, and solid performance. The MSI Prestige 15 appears to consistently implement the guiding principle of throttling the solid and efficient hardware to such an extent that content creation succeeds perfectly. Performance-hungry tasks, on the other hand, are slowed down a little by the reduced power consumption. Conversely, this means that the case remains relatively cool and the dual fan subdued. The battery life also benefits somewhat. So the losses aren't really dramatic because full performance is still available for short bursts."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) or the MSI Prestige 15
About Apple
Apple, an American technology company, is one of the world’s largest company in terms of market capitalization. Their MacBook laptops feature a slim, minimalistic design, class-leading battery life, and premium display and speaker quality. In 2020 Apple switched from using Intel processors to their own silicon chips which have excellent performance and efficiency. The macOS operating system is the second most widely used OS, after Windows.
About MSI
MSI, also known as Micro-Star International, is a Taiwanese technology corporation. MSI is known for their wide range of gaming devices. Their series include the entry-level Cyborg/Thin and Sword/Katana series, the mid-range Bravo/Delta and Crosshair/Pulse series, and their high-end Vector, Raider, Stealth, and Titan GT series. At every performance level, MSI offers a variety of devices with varying balances between performance, battery life, weight, and price, making them a solid option to consider at every price point.
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec laptops team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest laptop information and makes it digestible for you.
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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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